avoidant personality disorder
avoidant personality disorder (or anxious personality disorder) is a personality disorder recognised in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders handbook in a person characterised by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation, and avoidance of social interaction. people with avoidant personality disorder often consider themselves to be socially inept or personally unappealing and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed, humiliated, rejected, or disliked. avoidant personality disorder is usually first noticed in early adulthood. childhood emotional neglect and peer group rejection (e.g. bullying) are both associated with an increased risk for the development of avoidant personality disorder.
